Surprising Health Benefits of 13 Beloved Foods

You might think some of the foods here are too high-calorie, fatty, or lacking in nutrients to be included in a healthy diet, but surprise! Research changes our knowledge and opinions about our food, and a lot of the foods that were once maligned or ignored are actually good for you. Check out our list to learn more about these surprisingly healthy foods and how to use them. In search of even more tasty, but still good-for-you, meal ideas? Take a look at our collection of healthy dinner ideas.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms

You might not know it, but mushrooms are among the few edible plant sources of vitamin D, an essential nutrient that many of us are low on. You'll still need to get in front of some sunlight to get your full daily dose, as mushrooms only contain a small amount (about 15 IU per serving), but some grocery stores are now upping the amount of vitamin D in the mushrooms they sell by exposing them to ultraviolet light — ask your grocer to learn if they use this method with their mushrooms. And as an added benefit, many widely available varieties of the fungi also contain a healthy amount of some B vitamins, like vitamin B6 and riboflavin.

Pork

Pork

Pork is an excellent source of protein, and as long as you choose the right cuts and watch the fats you use while cooking it, it can be nearly as lean as poultry. The loin cuts (like chops and pork roast) are the leanest, followed by steaks and fresh ham (which both come from the leg of the animal). Grilling and roasting are great ways to add huge flavor to pork without adding a lot of extra fat during the cooking process.